Chewing tobacco is one of the oldest methods of consuming tobacco leaves. In the United States, this was the most prevalent use of tobacco until it was overtaken by cigarette smoking in the early 20th century.Some people think that chewing tobacco does not predispose them to the dangers of smoking it. But think again. Studies show that chewing tobacco is just as dangerous as smoking is! Because whether you are smoking or chewing tobacco, nicotine and the carcinogenic and mutagenic substances are still present.

The worst danger of chewing tobacco is oral cancer. This can be cancer of the gums, cheek, throat, tongue, or mouth.

Chewing tobacco can still cause lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. These diseases are caused by the carcinogenic substances in tobacco.

Also, nicotine, the addicting substance in tobacco, increases blood pressure and heart rate. Heart rate rises as much as 30% during the first 10 minutes of smoking. Nicotine has also been linked to narrowing of blood vessels and increased likelihood of blood clots. Smokers below 40 years old are 5 times more likely to have a heart attack. Even secondhand smoking increases the risk of a heart attack by 25 to 30%.

Nicotine also causes emphysema and chronic pulmonary disease. Other effects of chewing tobacco include the increased risk of acquiring infections like HIV susceptibility, common colds, bronchitis, and invasive pneumococcal disease.
Infants who die from sudden infant death syndrome have high concentrations of nicotine in their lungs. Even if you chew tobacco, nicotine can travel through breast milk. Thus, nicotine will be ingested by the infant.
These diseases show that if there are anti-smoking campaigns, there should also be anti-chewing campaigns. Smoking causes disease and cancer. Chewing also causes diseases and cancer. There is no other choice but to quit. Quit smoking now! Quit chewing tobacco now!

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